‘Star Wars’: The Best Lightsaber Battles from a Galaxy Far, Far Away
One of the best parts of Star Wars are the lightsaber battles – and these are the duels we can watch over and over again.
One of the most enjoyable things to watch in Star Wars are the Lightsaber battles. Nothing quite compares to the intensity of Lightsaber fights, and it’s a universal rule of Star Wars fandom that if we see a plastic Lightsaber in a store, we’re going to make the brrrr sound while swinging it around. It’s okay, even the actors do it. It’s impossible to chose a favorite battle from all of the ones we see, but these definitely some of the best.
Ahsoka v. Maul
Throughout The Clone Wars and Rebels, we’re reintroduced to Darth Maul and he’s slowly turned into a character that we understand a little better, and possibly even like. His motivation and goals aren’t good, but they make sense. Either way, it’s fun to see him fleshed out and made into a multifaceted character finally. So when he faces off with Ahsoka Tano in season seven of The Clone Wars, these two fan-favorite characters make it into a very enjoyable scene. The physical fight is interesting and creative, the banter is pretty fun, and the animation is some of the best in the series.
Luke v. Darth Vader (Empire)
The lightsaber battles in the original trilogy don’t really fairly compare to the other trilogies or the animated shows. While the OT was groundbreaking for the time, development in technology and special effects made it more possible to make the later movies look a little more – and sometimes over-the-top. It works with the story because the old Jedi are old and the young ‘un hasn’t been practicing for very long. But this is an unforgettable show-down, even without all of the bells and whistles of modern effects. One of the most iconic lines in cinematic history, a battle that starts with hope and ends on a bummer, and effects that still hold up to this day! Whoo-wee! This will always be one of our favorite lightsaber battles.
Obi-Wan Kenobi & Qui-Gon Jinn v. Darth Maul
This might be the best scene in this entire movie. The bar is low, I know, but the Obi-Wan Kenobi and Jinn’s battle with Darth Maul holds up to this day. The choreography is impeccable, the music is still exciting, and Maul revealing the second half to his lightsaber was so memorable and exciting. And any time someone can hold their own against two Jedi, you know they’re a force to be reconned with.
Yoda v. Dooku
I know this is a divisive opinion. Not all of you will agree that this is a very fun fight to watch because you’re annoyed by the CG Yoda. Muppet Yoda is obviously the superior Yoda, but this fight is still one of my favorites. Yoda hobbling up on his cane and hamming up the struggle only to move like a super bouncy-ball will never not be great in my opinion. And I can’t imagine a way to make this scene possible with Muppets.
Kenobi & Anakin (Revenge)
We’re all still quoting this one seventeen years later. These two characters are so evenly matched, making the fight go on longer than most Lightsaber battles. And that means they get to move from location to location, over makeshift bridges and lava rivers. It’s about as over-the-top as a duel can get – and that’s perfect. And considering this is where Darth Vader decides to build his castle and his appearance in Obi-Wan Kenobi, it’s clear that he thinks about this battle a lot, too.
What’s your favorite lightsaber battle? Do you prefer the original trilogy duels or the fights from the later trilogies or the animated shows? Who do you think is the most skilled lightsaberer? Let us know in the comments!
May The Force Be With You, Adventurers!
